Day 28 : When Life Knocks You Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight Times
After my scooter accident, I developed such phobia that I would always ride pillion uneasily. Yet at the same time, I would also be so envious of those who can ride. How nice it is to be able to ride carefreely against the wind! “Why not?”, Teresa told me with a determined look in her eyes one day, “Karen, you will learn how to ride a scooter before you leave Bali, I promise you.”
So, when cooking class ended today and Teresa suggested that we start to practice on the scooter, my heart did a little somersault. Excited, scared, nervous—every possible emotion surged through my body. As I sat on the Scoopy, every bit of me was replaying the horror of 30th December when my face rushed to kiss the earth. The impact of my face on the ground, the sudden braking thrust, the cracking sound of the helmet’s visor, the sharp pain on my nose and the warmth of the blood dripping from it came back in vivid impressions, and I felt my palms turn sweaty again.
Teresa was super patient and steadily guided me through the whole process. “I won’t let you fall down. I will only let go when you are ready.” I recited the mantra, “I am safe. I am protected.”, and took in deep breaths to calm down, visualizing myself being rooted safely to the ground. And the engine slowly revved into life…
Slowly, slowly.
Throttle, throttle.
Balance, balance.
Brake, brake.
Breathe, breathe.
Repeat.
… and then my two legs slowly got off the floor and onto the scooter’s floorboard, and I managed to keep my balance and ride for about 200m.
The overwhelming joy! The exuberant feeling! The sense of achievement!
Teresa was soaked through and through as she ran the entire distance of the trek trying to keep up with me and keep me safe.
I was a confident child again, with no fears and so full of life. I had confronted and overcame my phobia. I had gotten the monkey off my back. And really, this is life, isn’t it? Never shrink from a setback—when life knocks you down seven times, you get back up eight times!
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